Computer seems down for the count.

Well, my computer seems down for the count. It just won't seem to start. Background: My computer stopped working a whiiiiiiiile ago, it BSoD'd one day and I couldn't get it to stay on for more than a second. Fast forward a few months, I just happen to turn try the computer again and lo and behold, it starts running. I was able to reinstall Windows XP home and it ran beautifully for a day. Then I shut it down for the night and BAM! It's back to pressing the power button, it runs for about half a second, then it cuts off. As for my computer specs, it's been so long that I can't remember what they are.

 

It's a desktop. Spare cable didn't work. I have the computer's original power supply unit packaged away (never been used). I need a stronger power supply than that for my video card, but if I put the old one in just to see if the power supply is the problem, would it work until I got a new one?

 

You can remove the video card and use the onboard video with the old power supply, to see if the power supply is the faulty team member.

 

I ended up raging and yanking the power supply out without taking the video card out. Everything seems to be running fine so far though. The power supply was definitely the problem.

 

My computer lives!

Well after changing the power supply, my computer actually runs! However, if it gets tipped, knocked about a little, or sometimes just for the hell of it, the the picture turns a light/medium shade of purple. The power supply I put in is significantly weaker than my old one, and it isn't strong enough for the video card. Monitor works fine on another computer, so I don't think it's that. Is it just the video card not getting enough power, or is it something that's going to be more annoying to resolve?

 

Dang, knew I forgot to look at something.

Windows XP home SP2
AMD Athlon 64x2 Dual Core Processor 3800+
Nvidia GeForce 7600 GT

I can't remember the power supply exactly, but I remember it was rated at 300w. Not very good with computers, if you need more than that, just tell me how to get it and I'll get it.

 

I'm almost positive it's the video card and not the power supply. I put in a stronger PSU and it's still doing it. Annoying thing is, I can't pull the video card out. No lie, I've taken out video cards before, and I know there are brackets to lock it, but I just can not get this thing out.